Combination gift

ABSTRACT

A gift, according to the present invention, includes an enclosure having a base and at least one side and preferably forms a rectangular. The enclosure includes at least one card holding assembly and at least one opening. The opening is sized and shaped to accept at least one receptacle adapted to hold an object such as a flower vial. The card holding assembly facilitates the retention of the card after the gift has been presented such that the recipient will be more likely to retain the card and remember the motivation or message behind the gift. Because of the gift&#39;s unique design, the gift is suitable for many occasions in which the well-known plain and common combination of flowers and a card would not be appropriate.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to gifts/presents and more particularly, relates to a combination gift, support device, and greeting card arrangement.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Greeting cards are well known and are common gifts that are given for wide variety of reasons and are suitable for a wide variety occasions. Because of advances in materials and manufacturing techniques, there are a wide variety of greeting cards available. Typically, however, greeting cards generally include a front and a back hingedly connected with a message of one or more sides. One reason for the popularity of greeting cards is their ability to communicate a message, which is often personalized, from the person giving the card to the person receiving the card. In many occasions, however, a greeting card is not a sufficient gift and something more substantial than simply a greeting card required.

Another common gift is flowers. Flowers are typically given along with a greeting card to not only identify the person giving the flowers, but also to transmit a message. Flowers are typically either cut and placed into an arrangement or are given as a live plant, often a small seedling or the like. While greeting cards are available that are designed to hold a flower, flowers are still typically given in a separate package.

In most cases, however, the greeting card becomes disposable and is discarded within a few days after receipt. This is at least partially due to the fact that the greeting card itself has no other utilitarian purpose while a cut flower will typically last for a week or more and a live, growing plant will last indefinitely. As a result, the message communicated by the greeting card, especially when personalized, is often forgotten. Consequently, while greeting cards and flowers are typically fairly inexpensive, certain occasions call for something more substantial or creative than simply a greeting card and/or flower.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a gift that is fairly inexpensive, is suitable for a wide variety of occasions, and is more creative than the basic greeting card/flower combination. The gift should be able to communicate a message and also be personalizeable. The gift should also have a utilitarian purpose that facilitates the retention of the message over an extended period of time.

SUMMARY

A novel gift suitable for a wide variety of occasions includes an enclosure having a base, at least one side, and a first opening disposed in side and is adapted to include a card and a flower or the like. The enclosure may include a variety of shapes and sizes, and preferably includes a generally rectangular, generally triangular, generally trapezoidal, or generally spherical shape. The enclosure is also preferably translucent, and may optionally include indicia indicative of a theme corresponding to a theme of the card. The enclosure may include a plurality of first openings, preferably disposed on an upper surface of the enclosure.

A card holding assembly, preferably an expandable pocket or a pouch, is disposed (either integral with or secured to) the side of the enclosure and is sized and shaped to support at least one card. The card holding assembly may optionally include a viewing window such that indicia on the card indicative of the theme of the card can be seen. This indicia may optionally correspond to the indicia disposed on the enclosure.

At least one receptacle, preferably a flower vial or the like, is sized and shaped to fit within the opening in the enclosure. The receptacle defines a cavity having a second opening disposed at one end. The cavity and the second opening are adapted to receive at least a portion of an object such as, but not limited to, one or more flowers. The receptacle may be integral with the enclosure or may be removable. The receptacle may also include a plurality of second openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the gift according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the gift shown in FIG. 1 having a trapezoidal or pyramid shape according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the gift shown in FIG. 1 having a generally wedge or triangular shape and a plurality of openings according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the gift shown in FIG. 1 having a generally domed or hemispherical shape according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the gift shown in FIG. 1 having a card holding assembly with a viewing window;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the gift shown in FIG. 5 having a plurality of card holding assembles;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of a receptacle used with the gift shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of one embodiment of the receptacle shown in FIG. 7 taken along the line VIII-VIII; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A gift 10, FIG. 1, according to the present invention includes an enclosure 12, at least one receptacle 14, and at least one card holding assembly 18 sized and shaped to accept a card 20. The gift 10 provides a unique combination suitable for a wide variety occasions and can be manufactured fairly inexpensively. As will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow, the gift 10 serves as both a unique present as well as a base or enclosure for flower or the like 16 and facilitates the retention of the card 20.

The enclosure 12 includes a generally flat base 36 and at least one side 34. The enclosure may be made from any material having the necessary strength and rigidity, but is preferably constructed from paper or plastic. In the exemplary embodiment, the enclosure 12 is constructed from a translucent material and may be either clear or have a colored tint. The enclosure 12 may further include indicia 32, such as a design theme coordinated with the card 20 including, but not limited to, text or images. As will be discussed in greater detail below, The enclosure 12 serves as a unique and thoughtful way of presenting someone with a gift.

In the exemplary embodiment, the enclosure 12 is generally rectangular in shape having five sides 34 and a base 36. Alternatively, the enclosure 12, FIGS. 2-4, may have a generally trapezoidal or pyramid shape (FIG. 2), a generally wedge or triangular shape (FIG. 3), or a generally domed or hemispherical shape (FIG. 4).

The enclosure 12 also includes at least one opening 30 sized and shaped to accept at least one receptacle 14. The enclosure 12 may include two or more openings 30 as shown in FIG. 3. It is important to note that while the openings 30 are shown on a single side 34 of the enclosure 12, the openings 30 may be disposed on any side 34.

The enclosure 12 also includes at least one card holding assembly 18 disposed on at least one side 34. Optionally, the enclosure 12 may include two or more card holding assembles 18, FIG. 6, which may be disposed on one or more side 34 of the enclosure 12. The card holding assembly 18 serves as a unique and thoughtful method of presenting a card 20 and flowers 16 as well as a means to store the card 20 after the gift 10 has been presented such that the recipient will be more likely to retain the card 20 as well as the motivation or message behind the gift 10. Because of its unique design, the gift 10 is suitable for many occasions in which the well-known plain and common combination of flowers and a card would not be appropriate.

In the preferred embodiment, the card holding assembly 18 includes a pocket or pouch 40, FIG. 1, which is sized and shaped to accept at least one card 20. The pocket or pouch 40 may be integral with the enclosure 12 or may be secured to the enclosure 12 in any manner known to those skilled in the art. In the exemplary embodiment, the pocket or pouch 40 preferably includes at least one opening 46. As will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, the opening 46 may be disposed on virtually any side of the pocket or pouch 40.

In one embodiment, the pocket or pouch 40 may be expandable, such as, but not limited to, an accordion-style pocket or pouch 40′, FIG. 3. Alternatively, the pocket or pouch 40 may be a slit 40″, FIG. 4, which also functions as the opening 46. The enclosure 12 may also include pocket or pouch 40′″, FIG. 5, having a viewing window 42 such that the card 20 (and indicia 44 disposed on the card 20) may be seen while the card 20 is stored within the pocket or pouch 40. According to this embodiment, the viewing window 42 may function as an opening 46 in which the card 20 may be inserted within the pocket or pouch 40 through. Alternatively, the card 20 may be inserted from an opening 46 (not shown) disposed on the backside of the pocket or pouch 40 or may be inserted through an opening 46′.

The receptacle 14, FIGS. 1-2, is sized and shaped to fit within the opening 30 of the enclosure 12 such that the receptacle 14 is supported by the enclosure 12. The receptacle 14 supports or holds an object such as, but not limited to, flowers, pinwheels, decorations, and the like 16. The preferred embodiment, the enclosure 12 is a separate piece from the enclosure 12 such as, but not limited to, a vial or the like, though it may be molded or formed as an integral element of the enclosure 12.

In the exemplary embodiment, the receptacle 14, FIGS. 7-9, includes a flange 38 which is has a diameter Dr which is larger than the diameter D_(o) (FIG. 3) of the opening 30 such that the receptacle 14 is supported by the surface 34 of the enclosure 12. The receptacle 14 forms a cavity 48, having an opening 50 at one end, and is sized and shaped to support and hold the objects 16, for example the stems 26 of flowers 16. In the preferred embodiment, the cavity 48 of the receptacle 14 contain a quantity of liquid 24, such as water, fertilizer, and/or growing medium, in which the stems 26 of flowers 16 may be at least partially submerged. The opening 50 may include one or more slits or openings 28, FIG. 8, in which the objects 16 may be inserted through or a thin layer of plastic or the like 52 in which the object may be pushed through in order to create a tight, water proof seal.

Accordingly, the gift 10 according to the present invention is a unique combination suitable for a wide variety occasions and can be manufactured fairly inexpensively. The gift 10 serves as a unique and thoughtful method of presenting a card 20 and flowers 16 as well as a means to store the card 20 after the gift 10 has been presented such that the recipient will be more likely to retain the card 20 as well as the motivation or message behind the gift 10. Because of its unique design, the gift 10 is suitable for many occasions in which the well-known plain and common combination of flowers and a card would not be appropriate.

Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims. 

1. A gift comprising: an enclosure having a base and at least one side, said at least one side having at least a first opening; at least one card holding assembly disposed on said at least one side, said card holding assembly sized and shaped to support at least one card; and at least one receptacle sized and shaped to fit within said at least one opening in said enclosure, said receptacle defining a cavity having a second opening disposed at one end, said cavity and said second opening adapted to receive at least a portion of an object.
 2. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure is generally rectangular in shape.
 3. The gift as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first opening is disposed on an upper surface of said enclosure and said card holding assembly is disposed on a side perpendicular to said upper surface
 4. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure generally spherical in shape.
 5. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes generally triangular in shape.
 6. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes generally trapezoidal in shape.
 7. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes a plurality of said first openings and a plurality of said card holding assembles.
 8. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure further includes indicia indicative of a theme corresponding to a theme of said card.
 9. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said card holding assembly further includes a viewing window.
 10. The gift as claimed in claim 9 wherein said enclosure further includes indicia indicative of a theme corresponding to a theme of said card, wherein at least a portion of said indicia on said card is visible through said viewing window.
 11. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said card holding assembly is expandable.
 12. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receptacle includes a vial.
 13. The gift as claimed in claim 12 wherein said vial is adapted to contain a quantity of liquid.
 14. The gift as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure is translucent.
 15. The gift as claimed in claim 14 wherein said enclosure has a tint.
 16. A combination gift, card, and support comprising: a support body having a base and at least one side; a first opening disposed on said at least one side; a vial defining a cavity having a second opening disposed at one end adapted to receive at least a portion of an object, said second opening having a lip wherein said vial is sized and shaped to fit within said first opening in said body such that said lip supports said vial on said side of said enclosure; and a card adapted to contain a message; and a card holding assembly disposed on said side of said enclosure, said card holding assembly sized and shaped to support said card.
 17. The gift as claimed in claim 16 wherein said body includes a plurality of said first openings.
 18. The gift as claimed in claim 17 wherein said body includes a plurality of vials.
 19. The gift as claimed in claim 16 wherein said card holding assembly is expandable.
 20. A combination gift, card, and support comprising: a translucent support body having a base, at least one side, and a first opening disposed on said at least one side; a vial defining a cavity having a second opening disposed at one end adapted to receive at least one stem of a flower, said second opening having a lip wherein said vial is sized and shaped to fit within said first opening in said body such that said lip supports said vial on said side of said enclosure; and a card adapted to contain a message; and an expandable pocket disposed on said side of said enclosure, said card holding assembly sized and shaped to support said card. 